Advice for debut-book authors

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by RudyG

River Oaks Bookstore's Michael Jones & author

I've completed the initial segment promoting my first book,The Closet of Discarded Dreams, in Denver, Nuevo Mexico, L.A. and San Anto& Houston, Texas. While I'm still digesting events in N.M. and Texas, Ithought it might be useful to summarize some of the most important things Ilearned in that they might help others succeed with the whirlwind experience thatmany aspire to. In no particular order, here are my preliminary points:
Fine tune your book tour schedule to your abilities andcapacity for stress. Mine was a whirlwind, not only rushing past me like a opening Xmas presents as a kid, but with toolittle time between events, too much driving that wore out my coccyx and jet lag that often reminded me of my age. It should havestretched over months rather than weeks. Once yours begins, the rollercoastermakes no stops for huevones.
Rely on published authors you know. Don't be shy; ask them everything. Askthem what surprised them most. See if they'll share their contacts, Emaillists, connections, data bases and then be surprised when your familia andclosest friends bring wine, cheese and biscochitos to a read.
Prepare everything well in advance. Idevoted two solid months before my publication date (40 hrs./wk.) tosetting up artwork, printing and shipment of books, bookmarks, business cards,posters, flyers and coasters; making connections for venues; contact media forpublicity ops like interviews and reviews. Then a two-by-four came out of The Closet and struck me because I didn't begin early enough and/orI should have left additional lead-time before the first appearance.
Your largest audience for your firstreading/signing of your novel, collection or poetry book may be your hometownor wherever you're best known. (Unless you burned too many bridges, in which case you go for the out-of-towners.) Do everything to make it the best showingpossible. Even though over fifty people attended mine, I later realized how many corners of my little corner I'd not reached.

Some of author's best supporters - la familia

Overestimate and anticipate your need for books and bookmarks,at least. One day I had sixty copies of my book. Ten days later pendejo-Me had to tellthree audiences that there were none available there at the event. I did fineon bookmarks, but ran out of business cards. Another place I lagged was onsolidifying publisher orders by those hosting me. Entropy and disappointmentsomehow seem to converge like white lies with getting busted. Improved handling of thetwo sources for books would have covered my nalgas in all cases.
Develop and constantly update your database ofcontacts, events, meetings, etc. I started out well two months before publication,but the constant stream of E-mails, meetings and phone discussions didn'talways get entered. The bill for this will come due, I know.
Keep a detailed log of what happens tocopies of your book. Beyond who you billed and who still owes, the flood ofbook exchanges with other authors, books promised for reviewers or others willsoon overwhelm you if your memory is like mine, which is casi ausente. Some of this is relevant fortax purposes but more importantly, all of it is necessary for the success ofyour first book and the future of your second.
Take no one for granted. Obviously you need to remember who topublically thank for their help on your tour. But also, don't assume thatanyone you interact with is less intelligent or capable as you. I did this acouple of times and set myself up to be big-idiota-center-stage when I shouldhave been most alert and prepared. I believe these were cases of the dreadedmuy-muy syndrome attempting to take root in my ego.
Go for a more perfect reading. Periodicallylook up at some length at gente at your readings, not just peeking to see if they're still awake; the one whose your age often won't be. I read once withfive other authors, including experienced ones, and I was the ONLY person to dothis; the others NEVER looked up once. This requires prepping your readings,reading them aloud many times by yourself or with a critic, using typed copyrather than your book (or at least within a copy of your book), marking up yourcopy for pauses, word emphasis, intelligent enunciation (like I had problemsreading "of value" and had to pause after "of") and atleast for me, using fourteen point type. One day it'll be sixteen. I also learned that I didn't need torote memorize my text; that came from repeated reading.
Do your best, especially for small audiences. Experienced, even well-known, authorswith publisher support that included airfare, hotel, big bookstore liaison inlarge cities advised me they had had audiences of 3 people. When only two or threeshowed at a couple of mine, I was ready to give them the greatest performance Icould.
Tweet, friend, share, post and make it a joy to read. Iwon't nominate myself as the best at this (consider this post), butmy wisest daughter Marika has impressed upon me the importance of keeping mi cara infront of my fans by sharing news every few days. And at least tryingto make it fun, funny, informative, interesting to read.
Give of yourself to your audience. I'm guessing that themajority of an audience comes to hear you, not your text. Yes, they want tofind value in your book and your words may be great. But they want to knowyou, be a part of the special thing that's fallen on you the author. Don't givethem dry facts about you, your life, your road to authorship. Give them the funny,the thrilling, the emotion behind writing that book. If you have to, invent some. But relax because they wantthe real you. Take pride, yes, because they expect for you to convince they shouldbuy/read the work. Then fulfill your responsibility to make them glad they cameand they'll look forward to book two.

Author Garcia finally takes a break

Take breaks to give yourself a qué-suave! You got a bookpublished! Enjoy the moments. Remind yourself of the major hurdle you justleapt. Have some beers, some agavero, some President (not in that order) with family, friends and colleagues. And laugh, with joy.Then get to writing whatever you have the most energy and ganas for, because you're meant to be a writer, not some puto self-promoter.
Undoubtedly I've forgotten or not emphasized things that shouldbe. Any one of these items could be expanded. This is also just one author'sexperience. I welcome additions, corrections, elaborations and contributionsfrom others who know more. Or less.
Adelante con otra obra! 
RudyG, aka Rudy Ch. Garcia, author of The Closet of Discarded Dreams, taking a break before visitingnorthern and southern Colorado to share my work. Sometime soon after I catch my breath and get some more pinche books.